Syria Proposes Formation of New U.N. Palestine Body to Include Russia

October 4, 1955

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (Oct. 3)

Winding up the parade of Arab delegates who for two weeks have been beating the war drums against Israel in the General Assembly, Ahmed L. Shukairy, chairman of the Syrian delegation and assistant secretary of the Arab League, delivered an address which some delegates here believe to have been probably the most violent attack against Israel ever heard in the United Nations.

Openly declaring that past United Nations resolutions regarding Israel need not be observed, and openly threatening that unnamed Arab forces might lead “an underground movement” to “emancipate their country,” Mr. Shukairy virtually called for the wiping out of Israel.

He proposed that the United Nations establish a new commission for Palestine to be composed of representatives of the United States, Soviet and Iran. Headquarters of this commission, he suggested, would be in Jerusalem. Under his seven-point plan the commission would: “ascertain the wishes of the Palestine refugees in order to determine those desiring to return and those desiring not to return; take the necessary measures with a view to facilitate repatriation of the refugees to their former homes and lands; arrange for adequate compensation for those not wishing to return; provide for the necessary guarantees to secure all human rights for the refugees returning to their homelands.”

“So far the people of Palestine,” said Mr. Shukairy, “did not take the law into their own hands, but who can rest assured that they would continue law abiding# Leading an underground movement could not be ruled out. The people of Palestine might carry out a campaign to emancipate the country. They know the ins and outs of their territory. Today they may possess nothing but courage and determination. But no one knows what tomorrow brings. Tomorrow may bring everything.”